Jordan Spieth – Five Key US Open Facts

Jordan Spieth is halfway through to the grand slam after clinching The Masters and US Open

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Spieth is breaking records with his victory at the 2015 U.S. Open

 

Special feature by Anand Datla

 

June 22, 2015: In winning the US Open by a narrow margin, Jordan Spieth has managed to excite the imagination of golf fans across the world. Not since Tiger Woods in the previous decade has a golfer captivated American energies, as Spieth has been since his rookie season last year.

 

In this feature we look at five of the most memorable accomplishments for Spieth this week at Chambers Bay.

 

1. Spieth is the first golfer since Woods in 2002 to win the first two majors of the season. The young American coasted to a commanding victory at the Masters a couple of months ago. Victory at the US Open was far from easy – Spieth watched helplessly as Dustin Johnson lined up his putter on the 18th hole, with a chance to win the title from just 12 feet out.

As it transpired, Johnson not only failed to sink the eagle putt – he went on to miss an opportunity to force a play-off failing to putt from just a little more than three feet from the cup.

 

2. Spieth is the youngest golfer ever to win the Masters and the US Open in the same season. Tiger Woods (in 2002 – 26 years old), Jack Nicklaus (1972 -32), Arnold Palmer (1960-30), Ben Hogan (1951-38; 1953-40) and Craig Wood (1941-39) were all much older than the 21 year old American. Only time can tell is Spieth can win the calendar grand slam, but he is already in some of most illustrious company any golfer could dream about.

 

3. Spieth is the youngest US Open Champion since Bobby Jones in 1923. He is also the youngest golfer to hold two major titles since Gene Sarazen in 1922. As we head into July and August, Spieth has a great chance at emulating Jones, who is the only golfer to have won all four majors in the same season. No matter what happens in July, we can already state for a fact that Spieth is accomplishing the feats that haven’t even been smelt by other golfers for nearly a century.

 

4. Interestingly, three of the four majors this season are being played on links courses. With one already in the bag, there is no denying the fact that Spieth will reach the Old Course at St. Andrew’s with his tail up and hopes soaring. The major tour will then stop at the PGA Championship in August, to be played at the Whistling Straits. With the Green Jacker on his back and the US Open silverware in his closet, it will take a gutsy punter to bet against Spieth.

But before we float too far away, it is worth remembering that the two most prolific golfers in modern golf history have managed to win a calendar grand slam. After all in 1930 when Bobby Jones won The Open, U.S. Open, U.S. Amateur and British Amateur 85 years ago, golf was in a different era. And even then Jones was and is the only man to have ever won all four majors in a single season.

 

5. Irrespective of what transpires at the next two majors, Spieth is at least halfway through to a career grand slam. And only Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have managed to win all four majors during their glittering careers. It remains to be seen if Spieth can rewrite history this season or has to wait a while before he completes his collection of the four majors.

With time on his side, there is no telling how far Spieth can take the combination of talent and commitment. Incidentally Ben Hogan is the only golfer to have won the first three majors in a season, and that will be Spieth’s first goal when the golfers reach Scotland.

 

 

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